God Does Not Tempt

James 1:2-15 International Version

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Commentary:
God is holy and has no inclination toward evil.  He is not the author of sin, nor is He responsible for sin's entrance into the human race.  God is permitting evil to run its course until His plan of redemption reaches its culmination.  God cannot be tempted, nor does He tempt anyone.  Though He allows us to tempted.  God has placed limits on Satan's activities and the extent of his power to tempt us.  God is always in control.  Though it might seem so, evil does not reign unbridled on the earth,  In the true story of Job, Satan reports in to God and discusses Job in order to obtain permission to tempt him (Job 1:6-12) God permitted Satan to subject Job to a severe though limited, temptation.  God sustained Job through the trial, and gave him far more than Job had lost.